Space Minds Robotics and the future of on-orbit labor
Aug 24, 2026
Ethan Barajas, CEO and co-founder of Icarus Robotics who builds dexterous robots for on‑orbit work, talks about freeing astronauts from routine tasks. He describes Joyride One and the bimanual robot Joy. Discussions cover cargo handling, external servicing timelines, launch plans, partnerships, funding, and how space robotics ties to broader logistics and lunar ambitions.
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Astronauts Say Station Work Feels Like Warehouse Labor
- Astronauts compared station work to being Amazon warehouse workers, doing long repetitive cargo and setup tasks.
- Ethan Barajas heard experiments spend 90 of 120 minutes just unpacking and staging gear for science.
On Orbit Labor Is Repetitive Hands On Work
- On-orbit labor means repetitive tasks like moving cargo bags, changing filters, and basic maintenance that don't require PhDs.
- Automating those hands-on chores frees astronauts to focus on experiments and higher-value science.
Joyride One Will Train Autonomy Aboard the ISS
- Joyride One is Icarus Robotics' flagship mission to operate a bimanual robot on the ISS to move cargo, unpack experiments, and do vehicle checks.
- They’ll collect telemetry to train autonomy and reduce human-in-the-loop steps.